Yet another draw has been registered in Ugandan rugby for the third successive year. The first stalemate of 2025 has come early; between Toyota Buffaloes and Walukuba Barbarians at Kyadondo in the third round of the men’s Uganda Rugby Premiership this Saturday.
Walukuba led by 12-00 until the sixty-fifth minute, seemingly in control of a close physical contest against Buffaloes. Ahmed Ssekyanzi scored both tries scored and Gift Wokorach slotted one conversion.
But the hosts drew level in the eightieth minute after the momentum swung. Their charge was led by Ivan Odhiambo and Aaron Tukei as try scorers. Youngster Joab Oluoch kicked only one of the difficult conversions from the touchline.
Both teams then literally threw the kitchen sink at each other during the last play in the hope of clinching maximum points. But the points were to be shared as the ball was lost forward with Walukuba on attack.
Buffaloes’ head coach Charles Onen was relieved by the sound of the fulltime whistle and taking the two points for the draw on offer.
“Obviously, we were seated at the edge of our seats. Pressure was mounting every single time, most especially in the last minutes when we still had a chance to pull it off. Credit to both teams for the contest, good game,” Onen said to Kawowo Sports.
On the other hand, Walukuba’s head coach Leonard Lubambula was not happy letting the victory slip from his hands at Kyadondo.
“I’m not happy because we failed to secure the win. A little bit of uncoordinated communication in the last five minutes. I think that cost us — we conceded a try which sealed the game to twelve-twelve,” Lubambula said.
Both teams’ next fixtures in Round Four will be uphill tasks. Walukuba will make the short trek through Jinja City to face Hippos at Damwaters in a crucial derby while Buffaloes will welcome KOBs from across Lugogo Mall.
